Moonlight spilled on the undulating surface of the river, and the thin boat slipped through it, causing a line of darkness like an arrow to split it in two. The mech lounged in the bow of the boat, and behind it, the man rowed. Beyond them, a swan glided across the lake. The mech scrambled out of the seat in her direction. It gripped the side of the boat, staring at the bird, and then reached out an arm in her direction.
"Like swans, do you?" asked Hong-Gi with a chuckle.
The mech swung its head back toward him, paused, and then nodded. It dropped one metal hand into the lake, letting it drag.
Hong-Gi smiled wistfully. "Ae-Ri used to do that. We came here when we were young, and I was courting her." Then he frowned, trying to remember how long it had been since he had been rowing on this lake, or any lake for that matter—how many years since he had allowed himself such simple, satisfying pleasure.
The mech's movements had been growing more labored with every minute that passed. It seemed suddenly that it might tip right out of the boat toward the swan, so Hong-Gi lunged forward to catch it and helped it settle back into the bench. As he resumed rowing, he eyed the dull little jade core in the mech's chest, which flickered, threatening to give out.
"If that goes out, can I get it going again?"
The mech's cupped hand touched the grate in its chest, and then it shook its head toward Hong-Gi.
"Should we find someone who can? Your...maker?"
The mech shook its head, slowly but certainly. The blue discs of its eyes fixed on Hong-Gi, and it gestured with a sweep of its arm that took in the whole of the night sky. Then it gestured toward the lake and to the swan in the distance. Finally, its hand rested over where its heart should be, and it let out a long sigh of contentment. It set its other hand upon the man's—patting it once, twice, and then let it come to rest there.
Misty-eyed, Hong-Gi took in his strange little friend, and then the lake, and thought again of how many years had slipped away.
"I see. How very silly of me."
End of Dragons: Act 4: A Woman of Culture — Find all the readable books in Joon's mansion. (1
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